Addition Strategies Teaching Resources
Make teaching addition strategies easier this school year with worksheets, printables, maths games, and more created by primary teachers for primary teachers. Using strategies in maths teaches students to think flexibly about numbers and will help them develop automaticity.
This collection contains Australian V9 curriculum-aligned resources that are easy to edit so you can easily differentiate resources for your individual students!
Has it been a while since you taught maths, or at least this particular part of the curriculum? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Are Addition Strategies?
The term addition strategies refers to the different methods and techniques that can be used by our students to solve addition problems. These strategies are an important part of developing fluency and building a deeper conceptual understanding — not to mention more efficient than counting as students flex their maths muscles!
6 Addition Strategy Examples That Help Primary Students Build Fluency
Looking for examples of some of the addition strategies that can help put your students on the path to a more procedural model? Here are a few that can be used side by side:
Counting On
This strategy involves starting with the larger number in a maths problem and counting on from there.
Counting On Example — If students are looking to find the sum of 7 + 3, they would start with 7 and count on 3 more (8, 9, 10).
Split Addition Strategy
Using the split addition strategy can be helpful when adding larger numbers. To use it, students will draw on their place value skills, breaking down numbers into their individual digits and adding them one column at a time, starting with the ones place, then the tens place, etc.
Split Addition Strategy Example — A student might want to add 37 and 48. To do this, they would follow three steps.
Step 1: Split the numbers based on place value: 37 = 30 + 7 48 = 40 + 8
Step 2: Add the corresponding parts separately: 30 + 40 = 70 7 + 8 = 15
Step 3: Combine the results: 70 + 15 = 85
Making 10
Finding ways to make one of the numbers a multiple of 10 and then adding the remaining number is called ' making 10' and can help early maths students.
Making 10 Strategy Example — If a student wants to find the sum of 7 + 4, they could make 7 into 10 by adding 3 and having 1 left to add on.
Doubles
The doubles strategy for addition is based on the fact that adding a number to itself is the same as doubling that number.
Doubles Strategy Example — To add 8 + 7, one can think of it as 7 + 7 (which equals 14) and then add one more to get 8 + 7 = 15.
Number Bonds
This addition strategy involves breaking the problem down into smaller parts that can be added together.
Number Bonds Strategy Example — To find the sum of 7 + 3, you could think of the problem as (5 + 2) + 3.
Maths Mentals
Rounding, front-end estimation and compensation can all help students get better at addition!
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Halloween Addition Worksheets
Count on to solve spooky addition problems in this 2-page Halloween Addition Worksheet.
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Addition Strategies Cheat Sheet
Help students understand the different addition strategies with this helpful cheat sheet.
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Split Strategy Addition Worksheet Pack
Practise using the split strategy with this worksheet set.
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Ten Frame Printable Templates
Use these printable ten frames in various math lessons to reinforce number sense and other essential skills.
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Addition on a Number Line - Jump Strategy Slide Deck
Model adding two-digit numbers with regrouping using a number line and the jump strategy with a handy instructional slide deck.
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Fact Family Houses Worksheet Pack
Use these fact family houses worksheet set to practise addition and subtraction fact families with your students.
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Split Strategy Teaching PowerPoint
Learn all about the split strategy with this teaching PowerPoint.
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Double-Digit Addition Strategies Posters
Remind your students to use different addition strategies with a set of printable two-digit addition strategies.
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Jump Strategy Addition Worksheet Pack
Practise using the jump strategy with this worksheet set.
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Counting On – Word Problems
Extend students with this counting on word problem worksheet.
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Counting On: Addition Strategy Worksheet
Practise the “counting on” addition strategy to solve addition problems to 20.
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Addition Strategies: Make a Ten Worksheet
A 2-page worksheet that uses ten frames to model the “making ten” addition strategy.
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Addition and Subtraction Fact Families Teaching Presentation
A 19-page editable teaching presentation to use in the classroom when introducing addition and subtraction fact families.
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Hop on Number Lines - Worksheet Pack
Hop your way to addition mastery with a pack of two addition on a number line worksheets.
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The Addition Algorithm – Teaching Presentation
Use this editable interactive teaching presentation with your students when explaining how to use the addition algorithm with regrouping.
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Find 20 Addition Strategy Task Cards
Practise finding 20 with this set of linking cube task cards.
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Number Talks - Double Digit Addition Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 24 task cards.
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Missing Addends Addition Worksheet
Build addition strategies with this worksheet where students need to identify the missing addend and matching subtraction sum.
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Addition Strategy - Counting On Worksheet
Solve addition problems in this 2-page Counting On Addition Worksheet.
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Fact Families (Addition and Subtraction) Interactive Activity
Use this fact family houses resource to teach and practise addition and subtraction fact families with your students.
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Part Part Whole Word Problem Task Cards and Worksheet
Explore these animal-themed part-part-whole word problems that will open discussions with your young mathematicians.
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Jump Strategy Addition Interactive Activity
Practise using the addition jump strategy with this fun interactive activity.
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Addition Strategies: Using Doubles Worksheet
Consolidate your students' understanding of the 'near doubles' addition strategy with this basic worksheet.
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Making Ten Activity Mat
A template that encourages students to demonstrate multiple ways to make 10.
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Addition Strategies Posters
Create an addition strategies display"for your students with this set of classroom posters.
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Split Strategy Worksheet
Practise using the split strategy when adding two-digit numbers with this worksheet.
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Addition Strategies Worksheet
A worksheet to use when consolidating multiple addition strategies.
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Addition Detectives PowerPoint
An engaging 43-slide PowerPoint styled as a detective story in which students are tasked with using different addition strategies to uncover suspects.
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Hundreds Chart Strategy Addition Worksheet Pack
Practise using the hundreds chart strategy with this worksheet set.
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Adding within 1000 Expanded Form Worksheet
Practise using the split strategy by working through this expanded form addition worksheet.
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Addition within 20 Interactive Resource
Practise solving one-digit and two-digit addition problems using a variety of addition strategies with this interactive activity.
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Addition Strategies: Base-Ten Blocks Worksheet
Practice using the strategy of using base-10 blocks and regrouping to find the sum.